Trump has a long and warm relationship with Oprah that helped springboard his presidential ambitions

President Donald Trump has long admired Oprah Winfrey,
the much-beloved media mogul and self-made
billionaire.

In 1999, Trump even said Winfrey would be his top pick
for a vice presidential running mate. In 2015, he defended that
choice. "I think we'd win easily," he said.

But as speculation about Winfrey's own political
ambitions mount, Trump may be forced to change his tune about
his former friend.

President Donald Trump has long admired Oprah Winfrey, the
much-beloved media mogul and self-made billionaire. But that may
change now that Winfrey is reportedly considering a 2020
presidential bid herself.

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Trump has spoken glowingly of Winfrey over the last few decades,
even telling TV host Larry King in 1999 that Winfrey would be his
top pick for a vice presidential running mate, should he run.

"I like Oprah, what can I tell you?" Trump said in the interview.
"She's great, she's talented, she's a friend of mine, she's a
good person. I've been on her show. … I like Oprah, is that
supposed to be a bad thing? I'd love to have Oprah, I think we'd
win easily, actually."

Trump has also publicly praised her on Twitter, tweeting
in 2012 that he "adore[s]" Winfrey and calling her "terrific"
in
a 2013 tweet.

The president has appeared on Winfrey's long-running daytime talk
show multiple times and 30 years ago, in 1988, discussed his
possible presidential ambitions.

"I know people have talked to you about whether or not you want
to run - would you ever?" Winfrey asked
Trump.

Trump demurred, responding that he had no immediate plans to run
for office, but went on to say that he would have "a hell of a
chance of winning" because he, like many Americans, he argued, is
frustrated by trade deals and foreign policy that he said
disadvantaged the US.

"I probably wouldn't, but I do get tired with seeing what's
happening with this country and if it got so bad I'd never want
to rule it out totally," he said.

Trump went on to say that if he were elected president, "this
country would make one hell of a lot of money from those people
that for 25 years have taken advantage."

"It wouldn't be the way it's been, believe me," he said.

caption

Donald Trump and Winfrey.

source

Screenshot/YouTube

Oprah 2020?

Speculation about Winfrey's own political ambitions are mounting
after she delivered a powerful speech at the Golden Globe awards
on Sunday night, weaving stories of racial and gender injustice
into a hopeful narrative that many argued read like a political
stump speech.

"I thought, 'Oh gee, I don't have the experience, I don't know
enough.' And now I'm thinking, 'Oh. Oh!'" she said.

Winfrey was a strong supporter of former President Barack Obama's
2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and she endorsed Hillary
Clinton in 2016. But her political positions are largely unknown.

During a 2008 stump speech for Obama in Iowa, Winfrey said she's
voted for candidates on both sides of the aisle.

"Over the years, I've voted for as many Republicans as I have
Democrats, so this isn't about partisanship for me, this is very,
very personal," she said. "I'm
here because of my personal conviction about Barack Obama and
what I know he can do for America."

The White House responded to the 2020 speculation on Monday.

"We welcome the challenge, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody
else," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters on
Monday, adding that Trump will definitely run for reelection.